Agricultural Lands Discharge Program

Note: Please sign up for the email list under 'Contact Information' at the bottom of this page to stay informed on the latest program developments and stakeholder outreach efforts.

The Agricultural Lands Discharge Program addresses water quality impacts associated with agricultural lands in the North Coast Region (Region). Agricultural lands have the potential to contribute to water quality problems through the over-application of fertilizers and pesticides, human-caused erosion of sediment, pollutants in tailwater return flows, and the removal and suppression of riparian vegetation. The Program is also designed to meet the requirements of the California Water Code , the State Nonpoint Source Policy, and the Klamath River Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

There are approximately 350,000 acres of agricultural lands in the Region, which are primarily used for vineyards, orchards, row crops, grain, alfalfa, hay pasture, and dairies. The acreage used for marijuana cultivation is currently unknown. Additionally, livestock grazing occurs on rangeland throughout the Region.

Program Scope

The Agricultural Lands Discharge Program as a whole encompasses several separate Regional Water Board permitting efforts that address discharges of waste from different agricultural commodities or geographic areas. The following two tables show the existing and proposed Regional Water Board permitting efforts, the type of agricultural discharges being addressed, and the associated permit(s). In addition to the regulatory permits themselves, the Agricultural Lands Discharge Program includes outreach, education, investigations, enforcement, and grants.

Program Framework

The elements listed below form the basic framework for the commodity or geographic area specific permitting efforts included in the Agricultural Lands Discharge Program. These elements are required by state law and are described in the State Water Resources Control Board's Nonpoint Source Policy (link provided above).

• Management Practices:
  Landowners select and implement the appropriate management practices to address identified discharges of waste. Local technical expertise will be important to identify appropriate practices.

• Implementation Timelines:
  Management practices must be implemented on a schedule. There is flexibility in scheduling to account for individual circumstances and factors such as threat to water quality, local priorities, and the cost and availability of grant programs or cost share funds.

• Monitoring:
  There are different ways to fulfill the monitoring requirements.  At the individual farm level, the primary monitoring method involves tracking the implementation and effectiveness of management practices selected by the operator.  Instream water sampling at representative locations may also be needed to help assess program or management practice effectiveness.  Group monitoring program are encouraged and some instream water sampling may be provided by the Regional Water Board.  Reporting:
  Reporting to the Regional Water Board can be done by the individual, by a group, or through a third party certification program. The Program will recognize work that has already been done on operations that are already meeting some or all of the program requirements.

• Enforcement:
  Program enforcement will be consistent with the State Water Resources Control Board Water Quality Enforcement Policy. This policy directs the Regional Water Board to be fair, firm, and consistent in taking enforcement action while recognizing the unique facts of each case.

Permit Development & Stakeholder Involvement

Regional Water Board staff are currently developing the following permits to address discharges of waste associated with the following specific commodities/geographic areas:

• Vineyards and Orchards in the North Coast Region
• Lily Bulb Production in the North Coast Region
• Agricultural Lands in the Tule Lake Watershed

The Regional Water Board is committed to working with stakeholders to address concerns, identify opportunities, and uphold State policies and requirements. In order to do this, the Regional Water Board staff have formed a Stakeholder Advisory Group made up of representatives of stakeholder interests. The purpose of the Advisory Group is to provide input to Regional Water Board staff early in the development process. The group' s input is used to develop the permit elements and alternatives prior to the formal public review period, which will precede consideration of the permits by the Regional Water Board. The Advisory Group members typically meet as three smaller groups to focus specifically on the three permits currently under development.

Public Involvement Opportunities

Meetings of the Stakeholder Advisory Groups are open to the public, although general public participation will be limited to allow for more extensive dialogue among Advisory Group members. Advisory Group members are expected to represent the interests of their organizations/constituency, and are encouraged to keep their local communities informed on recent Program developments as well as share public/organizational comments at meetings. A list of current Advisory Group members as well as Regional Water Board staff contact information are provided by the links below. There is also a link to subscribe to the Program email list at the bottom of this web page.

• Advisory Group Membership List
• Regional Board Staff Contact Information

Working Documents

Prior to mid-2013, Regional Water Board staff were developing one regionwide permit. The following documents were developed for the regionwide permit, but much of the content applies to the separate commodity/area-specific permits currently under development.

• Draft Agricultural Lands Discharge Program Scope and Framework - September 5, 2012
• Draft Ag Lands Conditional Waiver Overview and Portions of Draft Conditional Waiver Language - September 28, 2012
• Draft Water Quality Management Plans - September 28, 2012
• Frequently Asked Legal/Policy Questions
• Frequently Asked Program Development Questions

Stakeholder Advisory Group Links to Meeting Materials

Staff Presentations to the Regional Water Board and Reports

September 26, 2013 Regional Water Board Meeting, Fortuna

• Executive Officer's Summary Report
• Powerpoint Presentation
• North Coast Region Agriculture Map
• North Coast Region Timberland Map
• Audio

May 2, 2013 Regional Water Board Meeting, Eureka

• Executive Officer's Report

October 4, 2012 Regional Water Board Meeting, Yreka

• Executive Officer’s Summary Report
• Powerpoint Presentation
• Audio

January 19, 2012 Regional Water Board Meeting, Santa Rosa

• Executive Officer’s Summary Report
• Powerpoint Presentation

May 5, 2011 Regional Water Board Meeting, Eureka

• Executive Officer’s Summary Report
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Audio

• Executive Officer’s Report

• Executive Officer’s Report

June 10, 2010 Regional Water Board Meeting, Santa Rosa

• Executive Officer’s Summary Report
• Powerpoint Presentation
• Audio

Comments Received on Draft Agricultural Lands Discharge Program Scope & Framework Working Document

May 2012

• Kari Fisher, CA Farm Bureau Federation, on 5/18/2012
• Harry Harms, Del Norte Landowner, on 05/17/2012
• Devon Jones, Mendocino County Farm Bureau, and other members from Mendocino County on 05/18/2012
• Felice Pace, Klamath Forest Alliance, on 05/12/2012
• Robert Walker, Upper-Mid Klamath Watershed Council, and Ryan Walker, Shasta Valley RCD, on 05/22/2012

July 2012

• Bob and Ryan Walker, Upper Mid-Klamath Watershed Council on 7/20/12
• Devon Jones, Mendocino County Farm Bureau, on 7/20/12
• Greg King, Siskiyou Land Conservancy, on 7/20/12
• Julia Carrera, Third Party Inspector, on 7/20/12
• Kari Fisher, CA Farm Bureau Federation, on 7/20/12
• Margo Parks, CA Cattlemen’s Association, on 7/20/12
• Felice Pace, Klamath Forest Alliance, on 7/30/12

Comments Received on Draft Ag Lands Conditional Waiver Overview, Portions of Draft Conditional Waiver Language and Water Quality Management Plans Working Documents

October-November 2012

• Erica Terence, Klamath River Keeper, 10/22/12
• Jane Arnold, California Department of Fish and Game
• Email cover with references
• 7/6/12 memo re: DFG comments to State Division of Water Rights
• Comments on Elk River TMDL
• Felice Pace, Klamath Forest Alliance, 10/30/12
• Email cover
• Track changes edits
• Kari Fisher, CA Farm Bureau Federation, 11/7/12
• Margo Parks, CA Cattlemen’s Association, 11/7/12
• Shelley Janek, Mendocino RCD, 11/7/12
• Katherine Ziemer, Humboldt Farm Bureau, 11/7/12
• Joe Dillon, NOAA, 11/15/12
• Track changes edits on Waiver Conditions
• Track changes edits on Water Quality Plans

References

• A separate references page houses references related to the development of the Agricultural Lands Discharge Program.

Contact Information

Interested parties are encouraged to sign up on the email list below to receive information about stakeholder involvement opportunities and updates on progress to develop the program:

Email List: Agricultural Lands Discharge Program Email List Subscription Page

Contact: If you have questions about the development of the Agriculture Program, please contact:

Ben Zabinsky, Regional Water Board staff,  
(707) 576-6750,
ben.zabinsky@waterboards.ca.gov

Rebecca Fitzgerald, Regional Water Board Unit Supervisor
(707) 576-2650
Rebecca.fitzgerald@waterboards.ca.gov